Selective controller for vehicle call systems.



1f H. KLIEGL.

SELECTIVE CONTROLLER FOR VEHICLE CALL SYSTEMS.

' APrLlcATloN FILED JuLYS, 1913.

1,160,416, Patented Nov. 16, 1915..

2 sains-SHEET l.

QEQQ@ 1"@ QQ@ 4 @a waag@ l. H. KLIEGL.

SELECTIVE CONTROLLER FOR VEHICLE CALL SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED lum/8.1913.

1 ,160,41 6. Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

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JoHN H. KLIEGL, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

SELECTIVE CONTROLLER FOR VEHICLE CALL SYSTEMS.

Specilcation of Letters Patent.

' Patented N ov. 16,1915.A

Application led July 8, 1913. v Serial No, 777,828.

To all "whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. KLIEGL, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, county and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in `Selective Controllers'forVehicle Call Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention is an improvement primarily designed for use in vehiclecall systems for theaters, hotels, and the like, in which call numbersare displayed-at a point more or less remote from the place of exit ororder desk, by the completion in prearranged combinations of a series ofannunciator controlling circuits. In the systems of this kind now invogue, the display of the numbers is effected by the closing orprearranged combinations of controlling circuits, through theinstrumentality of cards or slips of paper containing perforations atpredetermined points corresponding in position to one or more of aseries of Contact terminals of an instrument into which the cards areinserted andby the operation of which those terminals only arebroughtinto engagement which correspond in position with theperforations in the card. In such cases the occupant or owner of anarriving vehicle is furnished with a card perforated in such manner asto effect the displayin a suitable annunciator or lamp-board ot' thenumber on the card and corresponding to that 'on-a duplicate. cardhanded to the driver, and on ordering the vehicle the perforated card isplaced ,in a selective circuit controller b'y an attendant whomanipulates it to Asignal the number to the vehicle stand where the drivers wait for their orders. `This system requires the making oi two setsot cards, one of whichy at least, involves considerable eX- .pense, dueto the character of paper required and the necessity of producingtherein the proper number of properly located perforations. 'Ihe systemis also open to the objection that if the perforated card befolded orcrumpled it may be rendered useless by such impairment for its intendedpurpose.

The object of the present invention is to avoid these objections and toprovide a more simple and economical system, and to this end theinvention consists in a selective cirv cuit controller in which movablegroups of contacts are adapted to be adjusted to given positions andcaused to complete the prearranged combinations of controlling circuitscorresponding to and adapted to display the numbers on the printed slipswhich are distributed to the occupants of arriving vehicles and handedto an attendant when the vehicle is to be ordered.

The improvement may be carried out by f the use of mechanism thespecific character of which may be greatly varied, but the best .andmost practicable embodiment of the invention o which I am now aware isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in l whichl Figure l is avertical cross section of my improvedselective controller, Fig. 2 is afront view in elevation of the same, parts beingbroke'n. away, Fig. 3 isa'- horizontal cross section of the device and Fig. l is a plete system.

The instrument by means of which the desired combinations ofcontrollingcircuits are box or casing mounted on the wall. In front ofthe base is a plate B connected to the base by a suitable number ofpivoted bars or plates Gand arranged to swing between guide plates l).

To the upper part of the base A is pivoted a lever E provided with a'handle F and connected by a toggle lever with the upperedge of the`plate B, so that when the handle F is drawn down, the plate B willswing upwardly and toward the base A.

Embedded in base A are'binding posts H, below which are three groups ofterminals designated by the letters I, .I and K respeo tively, andalongside of each group a con-v ducting or bus bar L. The terminals ofeach group I, J and K are arranged in definite positions or relationsaccording to a prearranged plan and are connected in definite order tothe binding posts H, the bars L being connected to a return wire commonto all the circuits leading from said binding posts to the annunciatoror lamp board where the numbers are displayed.

The electrical connections between the parts'hereinabove referred tobeing a mere matter of commonplace knowledge on the part of anyoneskilled in the art, are not illustrated in detail, in order not toobscure partly diagrammatic illustration of the com# ISOv theconstructive features of the invention which the drawings are vintendedto show.

The plate B is formed with three Vertical slots M through which projectstuds N carried by plates O adapted to slide vertically in guides orgrooves P on the reverse side of the plate B. To the plates O by anysuitable intermediate means are secured insulating blocks Q containingspring seated metallic contacts R arranged in line and in definitepositions therein.-

Parallel with the slots M are bars or projections S containing notches Tand to the studs N there are pivoted right angled spring actuated leversU the free ends of Which ride over the bars S when the studs" N areshifted, and engage with the notches insaid bars.

To assist in an understanding of the operation ot' the device and thesystem with which it is more particularly designed to be used, thelatter is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 4. Referring to saidfigure, V represents a board containing incandescent lamp socketsarranged in positions to form two or more single figures, the samesockets, of course, being utilized wherever possible in forming parts ofdifferent digits. The sockets being filled with incandescent lamps andthe board mounted at a convenient point, conductors are run, generallyin a cable from the boards to the selective controller in the lobby ofthe theater or near the order desk of a hotel, each group of lampsforming the digits being Wire and connected through two or moreconductors to predetermined terminals of the groups I, J, K, and one ofthe bus bars L. The lamp board is divided into three similar sections soas to be capable of displaying a number composed of three digits. If,therefore, the number 741 is to be displayed, the attendant, graspingthe left hand stud and its pivoted lever U, lbetween his thumb andforefinger, disengages the lever from the bar S and slides it up or downuntil its free end reaches the notch numbered seven. The lever whenreleased and permitted to engage with said notch, holds the stud and itsblock Q in such position that the spring contacts in the block willengage with the stationary terminals of those circuits which supplycurrent to the lamps composing the digit seven in the lefthand sectionof the lamp board, when the plate B is raised and forced toward ,thebase A. In a similar manner the .central stud N is set at the notchnumbered four, and the right hand stud at the notch numbered one, afterwhich the handle F is depressed, with the result that the plate B israised and forced toward the base A until the spring seated contacts Rare brought into engagementl with those terminals I, J, K, with respectto which such contacts have been adjusted to registering relation, withone contact of each group always engaging with a bus bar L on the baseplate.

As a matter of convenience and economy in the arrangement of lamps,there are eight notches in each bar S and eight rows of terminals ineach group I, J, K, corresponding to and adapted to display the digits1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0 respectively. With the disposition of circuitsand terminals adopted, therefore, the above described operations of thedevice will bring the contacts of the left hand stud N and block Q intoengagement with the bar S and terminal v or terminals of the fifth rowfrom the top of the set Lpthose of the middle block into engagementVwith the terminals of the third row of the group or set J, and thecontacts of the right hand block into engagel ment with the top row ofthe terminals of the set K. By this means connections between the returnWire common to the bus bars, and the several conductors that supply thelamps that display the number/741 are established through the contacts Rand the metal plates or other electrical connections bridging saidcontacts. Any other `number provided for in the system may be displayedin a similar manner or any other suitable form of annunciator may besimilarly controlled by the adjustment of the contacts and themanipulation of the instrument above described.

From the foregoing it will be understood l that the novelty of theinvention resides in the construction and operation of the selectivecontroller, and that the other parts of the system are or may beconstructed and arranged in the ordinary or any desired manner. Thesystem embodying the invention possesses many obvious advantages, itbeing easy of manipulation, simple in detail and of such character as toentirely obviate the necessity of using special cards or other accessorydevices.

That I claim is:

1. A selective controller for vehicle call systems of the kinddescribed, comprising in combination, an insulated base carrying theterminals of the annunciator controlling circuits, arranged inpredetermined order and position, a plate movable toward and from thesaid base, blockscapable of sliding adjustment in said movable plate andcarrying contacts which by means of such adjustment may be brought toregistering relation with desired stationary terminals and means forgroups corresponding to the position of the digits composing thenumbersv to be displayed, a plate pivotally connected to said base,blocks mounted thereon and capable of adjustment along parallel lines,rows of contacts carried by said blocks and adapted to be brought toregistering relation with the terminals of the controlling circuits andmeans for moving the said plate toward the base whereby the contacts arebrought into operative engagement with the selected terminals as setforth. Y

3. A selective controller for vehicle call systems of the kinddescribed, comprising in combination, a stationary support for theterminals ofthe annunciator controlling circuits, a plate movable towardand from said support, blocks carrying contacts and movable in parallelguides attached to said plate whereby said contacts may be adjusted toregistering relation with selected terminals on the stationary support,means for retaining said blocks in their adjusted ositions, and meansfor moving the plate to Iiiring the adjusted contacts into operativeengagement with the selected terminals as set forth.

V4. A selective controller for vehicle call systems of the kinddescribed comprising, in combination, an insulating base carrying theterminals of the annunciator controlling cir-A cuits, arranged inpredetermined order and position, a plate pivot'ally connected to saidbase having an openlng therein, a second plate adapted to slide inguides on the under side of the said plate, blocks mounted upon thesecond mentioned plate, rows of contacts carried byl said blocks andstuds mounted on the upper side of the said second mentioned plateadapted to be moved Vin the opening in the said plate member to bringthe contacts carried by the said blocks to desired adjustment and atoggle lever for moving the said plate toward the base whereby thecontacts are brought into operative engagement with the selectedterminals as set forth.

5. A selective controller for vehicle call systems of the kind describedcomprising,inl

combination, an insulating base carrlng the terminals .of theannunciator control 'ng circuits arranged in predetermined order andposition, a plate adapted to be pivoted to and positioned in front ofthe said base member having a longitudinal opening therein, a secondlate member secured in guides on the un erside of the said plate andadapted to slide therein longitudinally of the said plate, blocksmounted upon the second mentioned plate, rows of contacts carried by thesaid blocks, studs mounted on the upper side of the said secondmentioned plate adapted to be moved in the opening in the said plate andto bring the contacts carried by the said blocks to desired adjustmentand a toggle lever adjusted upon-the base member and plate whereby theVcontacts are brought into operative engagement with the selectedterminals as set forth.

6. A selective controller for vehicle call systems of the kinddescribed, comprising, in combination, an insulating base carrying theterminals of the annunciator controlling circuits arranged inpredetermined order in groups corresponding to the position of the igitscomposing the numbers to be displayed, a plate movable toward said basehaving a longitudinal opening therein, a bar having notches thereinsecured upon the said plate adjacent the opening therein, a second platemember adapted to slide in guides on the under side of the said plate,blocks mounted thereon, rows of contacts carried by said blocks, studsmounted on the other side of said plate adapted to be moved in theopening in the said platgmember to bring the contacts carried by thesaid blocks to desired adjustment, levers secured upon the said stud andadapted to engage in the notches of the said bar member to hold the studand contact members in desired adjustment and means for moving the plateto bring the adjusted contacts into operative engagement with theselected terminals, as set forth.

In testimony whereof 1 aliix my signature in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses. JOHN H. KLIEGL. Witnesses:

JOHN C. Kann, THOMAS J. BYRNE.

soV

